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TREASURE ISLAND VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
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Why Vacation in Treasure Island |
| Treasure Island is a treasure in itself---quiet beaches, numerous vacation sights, attractions and outdoor recreation options in close vicinity and, of course, lots of wonderful vacation rentals. A small barrier island located on the beautiful west central coast of Florida near St. Petersburg, Treasure Island is a sheer paradise for getting away from it all. Treasure Island has an interesting history - an old weathered wooden chest was once paraded down the city’s main street like a great pirate treasure; hence, the name Treasure Island was born. |
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Treasure Island Vacation Rental Information |
The Treasure Island vacation rentals include many townhomes, luxury penthouse condominiums and gulf-front luxury condos.
Treasure Island vacation rental properties, particularly the townhomes, are 2-bedroom, 2-bath units that can sleep from 5 to 6 people. Condominiums on the island are often |
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| 1-bedroom units perfect for a family of 4. Amenities could include air-conditioning, multiple televisions with VCR or DVD players, a satellite television subscription, a stereo with CD and cassette collections, laundry equipment, a garage with multiple parking, a pool with showers and a barbecue grill in the patio area. Luxury townhomes may include tennis or basketball court facilities. Vacation rentals in community properties may also have 24-hour security, saunas and spa facilities. |
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Special Information for Booking Vacation Rentals in Treasure Island |
| Ask for special rental fees for long-term stays of 3 months or more. The low season, November through January, offers opportunities for early bookings. Rentals of less than 6 months are subject to Florida sales tax. There may be a security deposit required to confirm reservations and rental payment may be due before your arrival. Check on cleaning fees, as they may be as separate charge. Pets and smoking are dependent on the owner’s preferences, so be sure to check the policies for these. |
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Must See in Treasure Island |
Visitors to Treasure Island must take time between trips to the beach to enjoy the 1950’s vibe, as several mid-century futuristic, neon signed buildings remain on the island. You can relax and enjoy the peaceful island beaches or watch the area’s fascinating wildlife on a sunset cruise. John’s Pass and Pirate’s Square are ideal places to browse through shops and dine. Other outdoor activities and |
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| attractions, like fishing, dolphin and manatee cruises, botanical gardens, art and history museums, nature trails and theme parks will allow you to create a unique vacation experience. |
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Sights and Attractions in Treasure Island |
| Visit a few of the interesting places that are within a few minutes drive away, like the Pinewood Cultural Park or the Pinellas County Trail. Or, plan a special day trip to Tampa Bay or Orlando to visit the exciting theme parks and attractions in those locations.
• John's Pass
• Cypress Gardens
• Sunken Gardens
• Pinewood Cultural Park
• Salvador Dali Museum
• The Florida Holocaust Museum
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Ybor City
• Professional Sports |
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Outdoor Recreation in Treasure Island |
| Enjoy the beach on Treasure Island, hike along the Pinellas County Trail, cruise to an uninhabited barrier island, go deep-sea fishing or snorkel near an artificial reef. These and other outdoor adventures await you on Treasure Island.
• Treasure Island Beach
• Pinellas County Trail
• Paw Parks
• Caladesi Island State Park
• Fort De Soto State Park
• Egmont Key
• Tennis
• Dolphin, Manatee and Sunset Cruises
• Fishing
• Snorkeling and Diving | |
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Golfing in Treasure Island |
| Are you looking for a golf vacation destination? If so, you’ve found it at Treasure Island---there are close to 90 public, semi-private and private golf courses within the borders of Pinellas County. Practice your short game at the 9-hole Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis Center, a public facility with affordable rates. Summer golf rates are $11 for 9 holes, $13 for 18 holes and $11 for twilight golf (with unlimited play after 2 PM). Those 15 years and under are not charged if accompanied by a paying adult.
If you are willing to travel a little further, St. Petersburg has several golf courses, including Cypress Links at Mangrove Bay, Isla Del Sol and Twin Brooks Golf Course.
For those seeking more a challenge, try the Mangrove Bay Golf Course or the Renaissance Valley Golf Course. The Mangrove Bay Golf Course is a par-72, 18-hole championship golf course on USGA modified greens. The year-round course was named one of the Top 100 Most Women Friendly Golf Courses by Golf for Women magazine in 1999. Golf clubs, golf carts and pull carts rentals are available on site and PGA professional golf lessons are available. The Renaissance Vinoy Golf Course, part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, features nine lakes, narrow fairways, vast pine valleys, two double greens and a signature island green at hole 16.
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Treasure Island Fairs and Festivals |
| Treasure Island and nearby St. Petersburg host a wide variety of local fairs, festivals and special events, including an annual pirate festival, Indy Car Series auto racing and cultural fairs.
• John Levique Days
• Annual Treasure Island Lighted Boat Parade & Community Holiday Celebration
• Tampa Bay Jazz Fest
• SPIFFS International Folk Fair
• The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
• The Annual Mainsail Arts Festival
• The Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival |
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Dining and Nightlife in Treasure Island |
Many restaurants can be found at John’s Pass and within the Pirates Square complex. In addition, there are plenty located at the beachfront on Gulf Boulevard. Choose from Californian, Mexican, Chinese and German cuisines, or try the local barbecue, seafood or steakhouse restaurants. One restaurant has served the locals and guests of the area since 1967. Gigi’s Italian Restaurant is dedicated to providing guests with quality foods, excellent service and reasonable prices. You can find Gigi’s Italian Restaurant in three area locations: Treasure Island, South Pasadena and St. Petersburg Beach.
If you want to relax without traveling far, several local spots on Treasure Island offer fun. George's Port Bar is just a short walk from the beach, making it the ideal spot for sitting under the bar’s Tiki Huts and watching the sunset or enjoying the live Friday night entertainment. Sloppy Joe's on the Beach has a large, two-tiered deck that is perfect for enjoying the view or sipping a cool drink between trips to the beach or listening to the live nightly entertainment that includes folk rock, island ballads and steel drum bands.
Downtown St. Petersburg’s BayWalk offers dining, shopping and entertainment. Every weekend you will find exciting activities like Salsa Saturdays, including seasonal special events and weekly entertainment on the Mainstage. For those who love theater, St. Petersburg’s American Stage Theatre presents six plays each year. The box office is open Monday – Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and from 1 hour before each performance until intermission on performance days, including Saturday and Sunday.
Tampa Bay's bands regularly crank out reggae, rock, blues, country, punk, salsa and jazz. Trendy spots in Tampa Bay include Channelside, SoHo, Ybor City and International Plaza's Bay Street. No wonder Tampa is considered the "Nightlife Capital of Florida's West Coast!" |
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Shopping in Treasure Island |
| Pirates Square is Treasure Island’s main shopping center and you can discover little treasures in the small boutiques around Treasure Island Village. Three major malls are 30 minutes away, in addition to a huge factory outlet mall featuring major brand closeouts. Try the Wagon Wheel Flea Market, if bargain hunting is more your style.
A short drive over the connecting causeway will take you to the sophisticated shopping, galleries and dining of downtown St. Petersburg. Dolphin Village in St. Petersburg is good if you need necessities like groceries or auto rentals. |
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Best Times to Visit Treasure Island |
Normally Treasure Island has over 7,000 permanent residents, but during the peak summer season, the island is host to nearly 24,000 visitors because Treasure Island is known for its bright sunny days with gentle breezes. Occasionally afternoon storms occur, but they pass quickly. In the spring and fall, the days are warm, while the evenings can be cool. Summer months are marked by warm temperatures, ranging between 72° F and 90° F. Winter temperatures range from 55° F to 75° F. The annual rainfall varies from 51- 58 inches, and more than half this amount falls between June and September. |
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Time Zone for Treasure Island |
| Eastern Standard Time. |
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Getting To and Around Treasure Island |
The closest major airports are the Tampa International Airport, the St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Clearwater Air Park is also available for small non-commercial aircraft. Auto rentals are available. Treasure Island can also be reached via I-75, I-275, US 19 and the Treasure Island Causeway.
The Suncoast Beach TrolleySM is an inexpensive way to explore the beach communities along Gulf Boulevard. In addition to the services along Gulf Boulevard, connector routes run between the coast and downtown St. Petersburg. The trolley runs every 20-30 minutes from 5:05 AM to 10:10 PM, Monday through Sunday, year-round. Service extends until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Trolley fare is just $1.25 per ride, or you can ride all day with a $3.00 Unlimited Daily GO Card. GO Cards are available onboard the trolleys and buses and in various locations in the area. Fare boxes are equipped to handle $1 and $5 bills, but it is best to have exact fare for each ride. |
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